Sunday Racing Tips from Andy Holding

LUMINOUS LIGHT (best price 4/1) has shaped several times as though he will be seen in a much better light once stepping into handicap company and with today being the first time Anthony McCann’s gelding has had a chance to test that theory, a big run will hopefully be forthcoming. 

A useful type on the Flat, hitting a peak of 86, the son of Iffraaj was picking up quite cheaply by current connections with a view to going hurdling and so far, you’d have to say he looks well worth the purchase price despite not yet troubling the judge. 

Promising on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse, he wasn’t knocked about behind some useful juveniles on his next start at Cork and it was a similar story on his most recent outing at Punchestown. Dropped out towards the rear right from flag fall at the Co Kildare venue, the four-year-old chestnut never gave his supporters (was sent of only 17/2) much hope of collecting, but it was noticeable that he made some nice late headway in the final half a mile to finish a never-nearer fourth. 

Clearly there is a decent engine under the bonnet with this fella and with his propensity to race a little keenly likely to be ironed out over time, he can start making a bigger impact now racing on a more level playing field than he’s been used to of late.

LIMERICK LACE (NAP) (best price 11/4)1 probably isn’t quite good enough to represent top connections at the Cheltenham festival, certainly not just yet, but Gavin Cromwell’s mare should be more than capable of holding her own at this sort of level based on her performances over fences so far and she rates a confident choice to back up her recent Down Royal gains. 

Not given a hard time on her chase debut at Navan back in November, the daughter of Walk In The Park was well-backed to take a huge step forward at Limerick next time and although there did turn out to be a significant amount of improvement forthcoming, she still ended up having to play second fiddle to the useful Drumbear. 

Handed what appeared a straightforward-looking opportunity at Down Royal last time out, she duly capitalised accordingly but even so, her time figure and manner of victory indicated she took her game to another level. The feature of her performance 33 days ago was the way she jumped and travelled at the pace set by trail-blazing Irish Blaze and considering the trip of two miles is seen as the minimum of her requirements (won over 2m4f over hurdles), her display deserved upgrading. 

Handed an opening chase mark of 135, she’s edging towards listed or even Graded races with that sort of rating but, with connections resisting the temptation to go down that route just yet, the promising six-year-old can take this on board before having her sights raised further.

SIGN FROM ABOVE (best price 11/4) kept on well to finish on the coat tails of three above-average performers in a quality novices’ hurdle at Leopardstown on his debut two months ago and even though some of today’s opposition has to be taken seriously, a repeat of a similar level of form makes Peter Fahey’s gelding the one to beat with just normal improvement. 

Sent off 100-1 at the Dublin venue, clearly nothing much was expected of the son of Sea The Stars first time off the shelf, but to everyone’s surprise, he managed to run way beyond expectations by finishing a close-up fourth behind the likes of High Definition, Jetara and Parmenion, all highly regarded in their respective yards. 

As he was easily able to jump and travel well at pace that day, it’s safe to assume there wasn’t a degree of flukiness about his performance and with today’s conditions more suitable for a horse who won on good ground on the Flat, he can build on that promising start and deliver the goods at the second time of asking.